Netflix Video Streaming Coming to the Wii, Hopefully

Netflix looks to be putting out e-mail feelers about how users would respond to having a video streaming service available on the Wii. Their survey email intimates a Netflix video streaming service that would require a subscription, internet connection, and a disc that must physically be in the Wii during video streaming. I'd call that pretty specific for a hypothetical future service. Is it safe to conclude that Netflix will be offering video streaming on the Wii in the near future?

It would probably be rash to announce that Netflix streaming is definitely coming to the Wii, as the email survey is remarkably hypothetical in some of its language. Read:

"Imagine that, as an added benefit to DVDs by mail, Netflix offers its members the ability to watch movies & TV episodes instantly on their TV via their Nintendo Wii, choosing from a library of over 12,000 choices." Sounds good to me. Let's give the hypothetical WiiFlix service a %65 likelihood of being realized.

Frankly, Nintendo and Netflix would both be foolish to not offer video streaming on the Wii. There are more Wii consoles in America than either Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 consoles. Netflix stands to gain a huge market share by teaming up with the Wii. Nintendo will be able to catch up with Sony and Microsoft in the video streaming arena. One huge obstacle to a WiiFlix service, concerns the fact that the Nintendo Wii, in marked contrast to both the PS3 and Xbox 360, doesn't have the onboard hard drive space needed to store HD video.

That doesn't mean that near-HD quality video streaming isn't possible on the Wii though. Take a look at this demo of the Japanese video streaming service on the Wii if you're still feeling skeptical.

If you can't wait for Nintendo and Netflix to finalize video streaming, take a look at our reviews of other DVD rental services. Otherwise, stick with our tech news blog:

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